Fuel distributing mechanism



Feb. 8, 1938. H. P. ANDERSON FUEL DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM Filed April A14, 1934 ATTORNEY.

Feb. 8, 1938. H. P. ANDERSGN FUEL DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM Filed April 14, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATT L' FRNEY.

Feb. 8, 1938. H. P. ANDERSON FUEL DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM Filed April 14, 1934 5 SheeS-S'neet 3 lul-III r/ lllllil III INVENTOR. j/afdfzdefm ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. A8, .1.938,

Standard Stoker Com of Delaware pany, Inc., a corporation AAliplication April 14, 1934, Serial No. 720,546

23 claims This invention relates generally to stokers of the type that discharges fuel in aerial paths over the rebox, and has for its main object the provision of'new and improved means for distributing the fuelover the firebed.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a compact, flexible fuel distributing mechanism for a stoker that is conveniently adjusted, without dismantling any part of the stoker or lo interrupting its. operation, to distribute fuel in an even bed over the firebox under all conditions of firing.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of novel distributing mechanism where- I in fuel may be continuouslyspread in a uniform blanket over the entirevfirebed by a primary fuel distributing means and more or less fuel may be distributed over one side or the other of the firebed by auxiliary means independently of the primary distributing means.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel blast chamber member.

Other objects of the invention reside in the provision in a Stoker of novel adjustable features that cooperate and are so related as to effect new and useful results.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, the combination of elements and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, 1 Fig. 1 is a view in vertical longitudinal section of a portion of a locomotive with a portion of a stoker embracing the invention applied thereto and shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, with parts removed and shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, with parts shown in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig.l 3; A

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1 1 of Fig, 3;

Fig. 8 is an enl-arged fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal cross section of the distributor head;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. '10 is a view similar to the View shown in Fig. '7 of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 11 is an isometric view of a plate-like member' which forms a portion of the front wally of the Stoker conduit; and l Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line I2 I2 of Fig. 6.

The invention is particularly adapted to stokers for use with locomotives and is so illustrated and described. It will be obvious, however, that the invention is not so limited and may be applied to stockers for other furnaces where like conditions prevail.

In the drawings, the locomotive is designated generally by the numeral I0 and is provided with a main supporting frame II and a rebox I2. The rebox I2 is provided with grates I3, a. smoke arch I4 supported on the customary arch tubes I5 and a backwall I6 having a firing opening I1 therethrough. Flues I8 extend forwardly 20 from the ue sheet I9 at the forward end of the flrebox I2.V A suitable stoker, indicated as a whole at 20, is provided for conveying the fuel from a source of supply and delivering it to the firing opening I1. The part of the stoker mecha.- 25 nism illustrated comprises a riser casing 2|, which is at the forward end of a series of conduit elements leading from a source of supply, such as the tender of a locomotive. One of this series of conduit elements is shown at .22 and a conveyor screw for advancing fuel therethrough is shown at 23.

A housing 24 surmounts the riser casing 2| and communicates with the firing opening I1. The housing 24 is apertured opposite the ring opening as at 25, through which aperture access may be gained to the rebox and through which fuel may be hand red. A redoor 26, of any suitable type, is arranged to form a closure for the aperture 25. 40

4As the fuel emerges from the riser casing 2| into the housing 24 it is projected forwardly through the firing opening I1 into the firebox by a pressure uid blast issuing from the blast chamber casting'21, which casting is mounted in the rear wall of the riser casing 2| at the rear of the rising column of fuel. The blast chamber casting 21 comprises a plate-like portion 28, overlapping the inner marginal edges of an opening 29 in the rear wall of the casing 2|, and a hub portion 30 passing freely through the opening 29. A cover plate 3l is mounted on the hub portion 30 and is drawn up tightly against the shoulder 32 by screwing the valve body 33 on the threaded portion 34 of the hub 30. The outer portion of ing 2l, thereby holding the blast chamber casting 21 in contact with the rear wall of the casing 2l, yet permitting sliding movement of the casting 21 along the rear wall of the casing 2i to any desired position, limited only by the clearance between the hub 30 and the 'marginal edge of the opening 29.

Adjustment of the blast chamber casting 21 in a horizontal transverse path is effected by an adjusting screw 35. This screw 35 is threaded through a boss 35a. and carries a head 36 received in the guide member 31 of the blast chamber casting 21. Now, when the screw 35 is turned in one direction, the head 36 exerts pressure against the wall 38 moving the blast chamber casting 21 horizontally in one direction; and when the screw is turned in the opposite direction, the head 36 exerts pressure against the slotted wall 39 moving the blast chamber castinghorizontally in the opposite direction. The wall 39 is slotted vertically and the guideway for the head 36 extends vertically through the guide member 31 so that the blast chamber castingmay be adjusted vertically.

Vertical adjustment of the blast chamber 'casting 21 is provided for by a pair of adjusting screws 40, each of which has a right-hand thread thread- Y ed in the flange 4l of the casing 2i and a lefthand thread threaded in a block 42 which is arranged to slide horizontally in a groove 43 in the valve body 33. Vice versa, the left-hand threads may be threaded in the ange 4l and the righthand threads may be, threaded in the block d2. Rotation of the adjusting screws 40 in one direction will raise the blast chamber casting and rotation in the opposite direction will lower it.' As a resultant of the vertical and horizontal transverse adjustability of the blast chamber casting 21, it may be adjusted to any position limited only by the clearance between the hub 39 and the marginal edge of the opening 29. f

The sides of the blast chamber casting 21 are chamfered, as at d'4, and its lower edge is chamfered, as at 45, to permit the blast chamber to be more easily adjusted when the casing 2i is lled with fuel and also to prevent obstructing the passage'of fuel through the casing.

The blast chamber casting 21 is provided with passages 4B, 41 and d8, that extend through the hub portion 30 into the valve body 33. Fluid under pressure is supplied to the chamber i9 in the valve body 33 from a suitable source of supply by the line 59 and valves 5i, 52 and 53 regulate the ow of fluid under pressure from the chamber 49 to the passage d6, il and 18, respectively. The front wall of the blast chamber casting 21 is provided, adjacent its upper edge, with a horizontal row of spaced openings 571i communicating with the passages 46, 41 and 49.

At the junction of the openings 54 and the passages 46, 41 and 68 there is rotatively mounted in the casting 21, a horizontal, transversely extending, cylindrical jet casting 55. A handle 56 extending through the side wall of the casing 2l is provided for rotatingl the cylindrical jet casting 55. In order to permit the Vertical and horizontal adjustment of the blast chamber casting 21, the handle 56 is-loosely mounted in the ball and socket arrangement 51 and universally connected, as at 58, with the cylindrical jet casting 55.

The cylindrical jet casting is provided with chambers 59 and 6U communicating, respectively, with the passages 46 and 41 through openings 6| and is also provided with a chamber communicataioaeae i ing with passage 68, which chamber has not been shown in the drawings. Jet openings 62 directed through the openings 5d are provided in the wall of the jet casting 55 and communicate with the chambers therein. It becomes apparent, therefore, that by manipulating the handle 56 to rotate the jet casting 55, the trajectory of the pressure uid blast issuing from the jets 62 may be raised or lowered as desired.

The blast of fluid under pressure issuing from' the jets 62 projects the fuel emerging from the riser casing 2l forwardly through the firing opening and into the rebox in aerial paths. This blast constitutes the primary means for projecting fuel into the rebox. However, a portion of the the distributor plate 66.

The distributor plate extends forwardly from. adjacent the front Wall 63 of the casing 2l into the ring opening i1 and is keyed to a shaft 65 that extends transversely through its rearward end portion. The ends of the shaft 65 extend beyond the sides of the distributor plate and are rotatively mounted in the bearings 65 and 61 formed in the opposite side walls of the housing 24. By rotating the shaft 65, the distributor plate may be made to assume any desired inclination from the horizontal. To provide for convenient adjustment of the plate, one end of the shaft-65 carries an arm 68 exteriorly of the housing 24, to which movement is communicated by means including a rod 10, attached at one end to the free end of the arm 68, and at its other end having threaded thereon an adjusting wheel 69.

Fuel is projected from the plate 64 by a blast of fluid under pressure issuing from a distributor head 1 I. pipe 'i2 that extends vertically through the rearward central portion of the plate 9d and is provided with jet openings 13 in that portion projecting above the surface of the plate 64. A stationary casing 1Q surrounds that portion of the jet pipe 12 that extends above the plate 59 and is provided with a slot 15, through which under normal operating conditions a blast of uid under pressure issues from the jet openings 13. Fluid under pressure is supplied to the jet pipe 12 from a suitable source by the supply pipe 16.

The jet pipe 12 is provided beneath the plate 63 withan arm 11, to the free end of which is flexibly attached a rod 18 that projects through a side Wall of the housing 24. That end of the rod 18 without the housing 2li is. threaded and carries an adjusting Wheel 19 w"c1i,when turned, causes partial rotation of the jet pipe 12 giving to it an angular adjustment. Now,` if it is desired to project fue1 from the plate 6G to one side of the firebox to the exclusion of the other side, the jet pipe may be adjusted angularly by turningthe adjusting Wheel 19 so that the casing 1li will l blank ofi one of the jet openings in the jet pipe This distributor head comprises a jet Y 12 and the other jet opening will be directed tooccurs when uneven draft conditions-cause the fuel to burn through more rapidly on one side of the firebox than the other, it is necessary, with the present device, only to turn the adjusting wheel 19 in a direction to cause one of the jet openings in the jet pipe 12 to be blanked oil.` and the other to be directed toward the side of the firebox to which it is desired to deliver more fuel. Thus, while an even blanket of fuel continues tov be spread over the entire firebox by the primary blast o r jets 62, the jet pipe 12 is spreading another blanket of fuel over that side of the rebox to which it is desired to deliver more fuel/ When the temporary uneven condition of the4 required.

. pipelz is not sucient, and an arrangement hereinafter described is provided'to correct such conditions. The upper portion of the front wall 63 of the casing 2 |,is formed by a separable platelike member 80 which overlaps and is secured at its lower end to the upperouter side of the lower portion of the front wall 63 and along its sides is secured to the ledges 8| extending inwardly of the side walls of the casing 2|. The inner surface of the plate-like member 80 has a raised portion 82 extending centrally and longitudinally thereof and projecting above its upper edge to form a ridge 83- that extends above the level of the distributor plate 64 but terminates below thelevel of the jets 62. A pair of plates 84 and 85, one at each side of theraised portion 82, are arranged to slide vertically in the races 86 and 81 formed respectively by the lips 88 and 89 and the surface of `the plate-like member 80. The plates 84 and 85 may be independently `adjusted to any desired height by turning the 'handvwheels 90 and 9|, respectively. .The hand wheels 90 and 9| are threaded on the threaded stems 92 and 93, respectively, which in turn are attached to the bars 94 and 95, respectively, mounted to slide in a horizontal. transverse path inthe slot 96 formed in the lower portion of the plate-like member 80. The bars 94 and 95 are provided with pinse91 and 98, respectively, which engage the diagonal slots.

99 and |00, respectively, formed in the lower portion' of the plates 84 and 85, respectively.

Now, if it is desired to project a greater quantity of fuel to one side of the firebox, for example the right side, the'plate on that side is raised to a point where substantially all of the fuel must come within the zone of action of the blast issuing from the jets 62 and be projected thereby. At the same time, the plate on thel opposite side is lowered so that a considerable portion of fuel will fall thereover onto the plate 64 and a limited amount only will enter the zone of action of the blast issuing from the jets 62.v Thus, it will be` into the firebox. The jet pipe 12 may be ad' justed to project the fuel that collects on the plate 64 to the right side of the flrebox or to other desired portions thereof. f

The jets 62 take careof distribution of fuel to all parts of the ilrebox except the rear corners. Since the jets 62 are a distance rearward of the firing opening and cannot be directed towards the rear corners of the flrebox, atop defiecton'indicated as a whole by the numeral isv provided I to serve those areas of the rebox. The top deiiector |0| includes a pair of defiecting members |02 and |03 disposed above the plate 64, one at each side of the firing opening. Each of the defiecting members |02 and |03 comprises an elongated bar |04 and a flattened horizontal blade portion having a curvate forward edge from which depends a curved skirt |06.

The deiiecting members |02 and 03 are secured at their rearward ends to the shafts |01 and |08, respectively, mounted respectively in the blocks |09 and ||0. Guideways and ||2 are formed in the opposite side walls of the housing 24 in which the blocks |09 and ||0, respectively, are arranged to slide vertically. The shafts |01 and 4|08 are journaled in the blocks |09 and H0, re-

spectively, and have threaded thereon the adjust- Iing nuts ||3 and M4., respectively, which when turned will move the deiiecting members |02 and |03 horizontally closer or farther apart, as desired. Adjusting screws ||5 and H6, threaded in the bosses ||1 and 8, respectively, are arranged when turned to raise or lower the blocks |09 and |I0, respectivelyfwhereby independent vertical adjustment of the deflecting members |02 and |03 is effected. Angular adjustment in a vertical plane of the deecting members |02 and |03 about their rearward ends is provided for by vthe arms ||9 and |20, which are keyed to the shafts |01 and |08, respectively, and are turned by the hand wheels 2| and |22, respectively.

The defiecting members |02 and |03 are provided with curved piates |23 and 24, respectively,v converging as they extend rearwardly from the inner edges of the skirts |06. The plates |23 and |24 together with the skirts |06 serve to intercept a portion of the projected fuel and direct it to the rear corners of the iirebox. 'I'he independent adjustability of the deflecting members permits the delivery of more or less fuel to one of the rear corners of the rebox independently of the other rear corner and the quantity of fuel delivered to either corner is conveniently controlled by the vertical, horizontal and angular adjustment of the deflectors.

A top plate |25isupported by the deflecting members |02 and |03 extends rearwardly from the skirts |06 over the curving plates |23 and |24 andv is split longitudinally into overlapping sections |26 and |21 to permit the independent adjustment of the deilecting members. The top plate |25 prevents the blast from spreading in an upward direction, thereby minimizing the amount of fine fuel particles that otherwise would be carried over the arch ofthe firebox. and escape through the lstaclir unconsumed.

The blast chamber casting 28 is provided with a splitter plate |28, comprising a horizontal row of preferably tetrahedrally shaped teeth |29 subjacent the openings 54. When wet fuel is being fed, the splitter plate |28 is particularly advantageous, since it breaks up the coherent mass of fuel tending to spread the fuel out in front of the pressure fiuid biast issuing from the jets 62. Y

In Fig. l0 is shown a modied form of means for projecting the fuel from the distributor plate.

In place of the singie jet pipe 12, casing 'llt and adjustable operating means therefor, best shown in Fig. '7 of the preferredform of the invention, a pair of jet pipes |30 and |3|, each pr'otdded with a single jet opening, |32 and |33, respectively, and each enclosed by a stationary casing |38 and |35, is provided. The jet pipes |30 and |3| are independently operated -by means described in connection with the preferred form of the invention, which need not be repeated.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I have provided a compact, extreniely flexible fuel distributingmechanism for sto-kers that is conveniently adjusted from Without the stoker, without dismantling any part of the stoker or disturbing its operation, to distribute fuel evenly over the flrebox under any and all conditions of draft, kind and condition of fuel used and other conditions o firing.A

I claim;

1. In a mechanical Stoker, the combination of a rebox having a Wall With a firing opening therein, a conduit for deliveringfuel to said firing opening, a pressure uid distributor head movably mounted on the rear wall of said conduit opposite the lower portion of said firing opening and means for adjusting said distributor head to any one of a number of positions vertically and horizontally along said conduit rear Wall, sai-:i distributor head being provided with jet openings directed toward said firing opening.

2. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a i'lrebox having a wall with a firing opening therein, a conduit for delivering fuel to said ring opening, a pressure uid distributor head movably mounted on the rear wall of said conduit opposite the lower portion of said firing opening, said head being provided with` discharge openings, means for adjusting said distributor head to any one of a number of positions vertically and horizontally along said conduit rear.wall, a jet casting rotatively mounted in said distributor head, said jet casting being provided with jet passages directed through the discharge openings in said distributor head and toward the firing opening and means for rotating said jet casting to adjust said jet passages to any one of a number of positions angularly with respect to the horizontal.

3. In a mechanical Stoker, the combination of a rebox having a Wall with a firing opening therein, a conduit for delivering fuel to said firing opening, a pressure :dui-d distributor head movably mounted on the rear wall of said conduit opposite the lower portion of said firing opening, means for adjusting said distributor head to any one of a number of positions vertically and horizontally along said conduit rear wall, said head being provided with jet openings directed toward the ring opening and a splitter plate extending transversely thereof subjacent said jet openings. Y

e. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a rebox having a '-.vall with a firing opening therein, a fuel feed device communicating with said firing opening, a pressure fluid distributor head movably mounted on the rear wall of said fuel feed device, meansforadjusting said distributor head to any one of a number of positions vertically and horizontally along said rear Wall, jet openings in said distributor head for the emission of pressure fluid for projecting fuel Y through the ring opening into the firebox, and

a' pair of spaced deflecting members mounted each on a respective side wall of said fuel feed :u 5. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of j a fireboxhaving 'a wali with a firing opening therein, a fuel feed device communicating with said ring opening, a pressure uid distributor head movably mounted on the rear wallof said fuel fee-d device, means for adjusting said distributar head to any one of a number of positions vertically and horizontally along said rear Wall, jet openings in said distributor head rfor the emission of pressure uid for projecting fuel throughV the firing opening into the rebox, a pair of spaced defiecting members,'each vertically movably mounted on a respective side wall of said fuel feed device, and means for adjusting said deflecting members vertically to any one of a number of positions independently of each other, said defiecting membersbeing arranged to intercept a portion of the projected fuel and to divert such portions of the rear corners of the rebox.

6. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a iirebox'having a wall with a ringopening therein, a fuei feed device communicating with said firing opening, a pressure fluid distributor head movably mounted on the rear wall of said fuel feed device, means for adjusting said distributor head to any one of a number of positions vertically and horizontally along said rear wall, jet openings in said distributor head for the emission of pressure uid for projecting fuel through the firing opening into the iirebox, a pair of spaced deecting members, each mounted on a respective side wall of said fuel feed device for horizontal transverse adjustment, and means for adjusting said defiecting members horizontally and transversely to any one of va number of positions independently of each other, said deflecting members being arranged to intercept a portion of the projected fuel and to divert such por' tions to the rear corners of the firebox.

7. In `a mechanicai Stoker, the combination of a lrebox having a wall with a firing opening therein, a fuel feed device communicating with said firing opening, a pressure uid distributor head movably mounted on the rear wall of said fuel feed device, means for adjusting said distributor head to any one a number of positions vertically and horizontally along said rear Wall, jet openings in'said distributor head for the emission of pressure fluid for projecting fuel through the firing opening into the rebox, a pair of spaced deiiecting members, each mounted for vertically swinging adjustment about its rear- Ward end on a respective side wall of said fuel feed device, and means 'for adjusting said deecting members to any one of a number of po=l sitions anguiarly with respect to a horizontal plane independently of each other, said deflecting members being arranged` to intercept a pon# tion of the projected fuel and to divert such portions to the rear corners of the rebox.

S. In a mechanical Stoker, the combination of a firebox having a Wall with a firing opening therein, a fuel feed device communicating with said firing opening, a pressure fluid distributor head mounted on the rear wall of said fuel feed device arranged tov project fuel into the rebox, a distributor plate insaid ring opening below the zone of action of said distributor head arranged te receive fuel from said fuel feed device,

means comprising a substantially vertically a'ljustable plate at the rear of said distributor plate for proportioning the amount of fuel delivered respectively into the zone of action of said distributor head and onto said distributor plate and` means for projecting the fuel from said distributor plate to predetermined areas of the iirebox independently of said pressure fluid distributor head.

9. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a firebox having a wall with a iiring-opening' therein, a fuel feed device communicating with said firing opening, a pressure fluid distributor head mounted on the rear wall of said fuel feed device arranged to project fuel into the rebox,

a distributor-plate in said firing opening below the zone of action of said distributor head arranged to receive fuel from said fuel feed device,

means, comprising a pair of transversely extend-v ing plates at,- the rear of said distributor plate and means for independently adjusting the versaid firing opening, a pressure uid distributor head movably mounted on the rear wall of said fuel feed device, means for adjusting said distributor head to anyone of a number of positions vertically and horizontally along said fuel feed device `rear wall, said head being provided with jet openings forl the emission of pressure iiuid blast for projecting fuel through the firing openinginto the iirebox, top de ecting means arranged to cooperate with said pressure fluid blast to distribute fuel over the entire irebox, a

Y distributor plate in said firing opening below the level of said pressure fluid blast, the front wall of said fuel feed device extendingvabove the v4level of said distributor plate but terminating below the level of the zone of action of said pressure fluid blast whereby a portion of lthe fuel will spill onto said distributor plate, and means for projecting thefueLspilling onto said plate into the firebox. E

11. In a mechanical stoker,-the combination of a iirebox having a wall with a firing openingL therein, a fuel feed device communicating.".with said firing opening, a `pressure fluid distributor,

head movably` mounted on the rear wall of said vfuel feed device arranged to project fuel into the firebox, means for adjusting said distributor head to any one of a numbery of positions vertically and horizontally along said fuely feed device rear wall, a distributor plate'in`said firing openingfbelow the zone' of action of said distributor head arranged to receive fuel from said fuel feed device, means for angularly adjusting said distributor plate vertically about a transverse axis at its rearward end andmeans for projecting the fuel from said plate to predetermined areas ofthefirebox independently of said pressure fluid distributor head.

12. In a mechanical Stoker, the combination of a firebox having a wall with a ring opening therein, a fuel feed device communicating with said `firing opening, a pressure' uid distributor head mounted on the rear wall of said fuel feed device arranged to project fuel into the iirebox,

a distributor plate in said firing opening below the zone of action of said distributor head arranged to receive fuel from said fuelfeed device, said distributor plate being pivotally mounted at its rear- Wardend on a transverse, horizontal axis, means for adjusting said distributor plate to any one of a number of positions angularly with respect to the horizontal, means comprising a substantially vertically adjustable plate at the rear of said distributor plate for proportioning the amounts of fuel delivered respectively into the zone of action vof said distributor head and onto said distributor plate and means for projecting the fuel from said distributor plate to predetermined areas of the 'iirebox independently of said pressure fluid distributor head.-

13. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a firebox having a wall with a firing opening therein, fuelfeed device communicating with' Saidring opening, a pressure iiuid distributor head movably mounted on the rear wall of said fuel feed device arranged to project fuel into the rebqx, means for adjusting said distributor head to any one of a number of positions vertically and horizontallyv along said conduit rear wall, a distributor plate in said firing opening below the zone of action of said distributor head arranged to receive fuel from said fuel feed device and means for projecting the fuel from said plate to predetermined areas of the flrebox independently of said'pressure uid distributor head.

, k14,v In av mechanical stoker, the combination of a iirebox having a Wall with a firing opening therein, a fuel feed device communicating with vsaid firing opening, apressure fluid distributor head for projecting fuel into the iirebox mounted onA the rear wall of said fuel feed device, a pair of spaced fuel deflecting members'mounted each on a respective side wall of said fuel feed device,v

means for moving said deflecting members in a vertical direction, means for moving'said members in` a horizontal transverse direction and means for moving said members pivotally about a transverse axis at their rearward ends whereby said deilecting members may be adjusted to any one of a number of positions to intercept portions ofthe projected fuel and to divert such portions to the rear corners of the rebox, a distributor plate in said firingopening below the zone of action'of said distributor head arranged to receive fuel from said fuel feed device and means for projecting the fuel from said plate independ- 'entlyofsaid pressure fluid distributor head.

[f1-5f `Irl/fa:mechanical Stoker, the combination of .al iirebo'x having a wall with a firing opening therein, a fuel feed device communicating with saidv firing opening, a pressure fluid distributor head for projecting fuel into the firebox mounted on the rear wall of said fuel feed device, a pair of spaced fuel deecting members mounted each ona respective side wall of said fuel feed device, means for moving said deiiecting members in a vertical direction, means for moving said members in a horizontal transverse direction and means for the amount of fuel delivered respectively into the zone of action of said distributor head and onto said distributor plate and means for projecting the fuel from said distributor plate to predetermined areas of the iirebox independently of said pressure uid distributor head.

16. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a iirebox having a wall with a firing opening therein, a conduit for delivering fuel to said firing opening, a pressure fluid distributor head movably mounted on the rear wall of said conduit opposite the lower portion of said firing opening, means for adjusting said distributor head to any one of a number of positions vertically and horizontally along said conduit rear wall, said head being provided with jet openings directed toward the firing opening and a splitter plate movable with said head and extending transversely thereof subjacent said jet openings, said splitter plate comprising a horizontal row of tetrahedrally shaped teeth projecting inwardly of the conduit.

17. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a rebox having a wall with a firing opening therein, a fuel feed device communicating with said firing opening, a pressure fluid distributor head movably mounted on the rear wall of said fuel feed device, means for adjusting said distributor head to any one of a number of positions vertically and horizontally along said rear wall, jet openings in said distributor for the emission of pressure fluid for projecting fuel through the firing openingY into the rebox, a pair of spaced deflecting members mounted each on a respective yside Wall of said fuel feed device, said deflecting members being arranged to intercept portions of the projected fuel and to divert such portions to the rear corners of the rebox and a longitudinally split top plate supported on said defiecting members.

18. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a rebox having a Wall with a firing opening therein, a fuel feed device communicating with said firing opening, a pressure fluid distributor head mounted on the rear wall of said fuel feed device for projecting fuel to all parts of the rebox except the rear corners thereof, a pair of spaced defiecting members mounted each on a respective side wall of said fuel feed device, said defecting members being arranged'to intercept portions of the projected fuel and to divert such portions to the rear corners of the rebox, a distributor plate in said firing opening below the zone of action of said distributor headY arranged to receive fuel from said fuel feed device and means for projecting the fuel from said plate to predetermined areas of the iirebox independently oi said pressure fluid distributor head.

i9. In a mechanical Stoker,4 the combination of a fireboir'having a wall with a firing opening therein, a conduit for delivering fuel to said firing opening, the rear wall of said conduit being provided 'with an aperture opposite the lower portion of the firing opening, a pressure fluid distributor head mounted on said rear Wall overlapping the inner marginal edges of the conduit that define said aperture, said pressure fluid head having a hub passing freely through said aperture and spaced onY all sides fromthe margin thereof, means cooperating with said hub for drawing said pressure fluid distributor head against said conduitrwall, and means for adjusting said distributor head in any one of a number of positions limited by the clearance between said hub and the edges of the conduit that dene said aperture.

20. In a mechanical Stoker, the combination of a rebox having a wall with a firing opening therein, a conduit for delivering fuel to said ring opening, a pressure fluid distributor head provided with discharge openings, said head being movably mounted on the rear wall of said conduit opposite the lower portion of said firing opening, said head being provided with a splitter plate extending transversely thereof and comprising a horizontal row of tetra-hedrally shaped teeth projecting inwardly of the conduit, means for adjusting said distributor head to any one of a number of positions vertically yand horizontally along said conduit rear wall, a transversely extending jet casting rotatively mounted in said distributor head, saidrjet casting being provided with jet passages communicating with the discharge openings in said distributor head, and means for rotating said jet casting to adjust said jet passages to any one of a number of positions angularly with respect to the horizontal.

21. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a rebox having a wall with a firing opening therein, a fuel feed device communicating with said firing opening, a pressure uid distributor head movably mounted on the rear wall of said fuel feed device, means for adjusting said distributor head to any one of a number of positions vertically and horizontally along said rear wall, jet openings in said 'distributor head for the emission of pressure fluid for projecting fuel through the firing opening into the rebox, a pair of spaced deflecting members, each mounted at a respective side of said fuel feed device, means for adjusting said deecting members vertically to any one of a number of positions, means for adjusting said deflecting members horizontally and transversely to any one of a number of positions, and means for adjusting said deiiecting members vertically about their rearward ends to any one of a number of positions angularly withY respect to a horizontal plane, said deecting members being arranged to intercept portions of the projected fuel and to divert such portions to the rear corners of the rebox.

22. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a rebox having a wall with a ring opening therein, a fuel feed device communicating with said firing opening, a pressure duid distributor head movably mounted on the rear wall of said fuel feed device opposite the lower portion of said ring opening, means for adjusting said distributor head to any one of a number of postI tions vertically and horizontally along said rear Wall, said distributor head being provided with jet openings directed toward said firing openu l ing: a distributor plate in said 'firing opening be@ low the zone of actionof said distributor' head arranged to receive fuel from said fuel feed de@ vice, means comprising a pair of transversely er:u tending plates at the rear of said distributor plate and means for independently adjusting the vertical extent of said plates above the level oi said distributor plate, for proportioning the amount of fuel delivered respectivelyrinto the zone of action of said distributor head and onto said distributor plate, and means for projecting the fuel from said distributor'plate to predetermined.v areas of the flrebox independently of said pressure fluid distributor head.

23. In a mechanical Stoker, the combination of a firebox having al wall with a ring opening therein, a. fuel feed device communicating with said firing opening, a pressure fluid distributor head movably mounted on the rear wall of said fuel feed device, said distributor head being provided With discharge openings, means for adjusting said distributor head toany one of a number of positions vertically and horizontally along said rear wall, a jet casting rotatively mounted in said distributor head, said jet casting being provided with jet passages directed through the discharge openings in said distributor head and toward the ring opening, means for rotating said jet casting to adjust said jet passages to any one of a number of positions angularly with respect to the horizontal and a pair of spaced delecting members mounted each on a respective side wall of said fuel feed device, said deflecting members being arranged to intercept portions of the projected fuel and to divert HOWARD P. ANDERSON. 

